Even as a pile of ashes and rubble, all that’s left of the Full Throttle Saloon after a fire destroyed it last September, the venue continues to generate a great deal of attention and talk. Of course, most of it was purely speculation. Rumors ranging from probable to utterly ridiculous have passed the lips of not only the FTS fan club, but the legions of “haters” as well, and everyone in between.
For the most part, I have held my tongue and waited for confirmation.
And confirmation we have, as...

I’m old enough to remember the days when bikers were not welcome in most businesses during the first week of August anywhere in the Black Hills. They were dirty, smelly, uncouth, they stole gas, dined and dashed, drank and fought. People who enjoyed riding motorcycles, but were not part of the “biker” lifestyle distanced themselves from the “biker” title. “Oh I have a bike, but I’m not a BIKER.”
As with most American icons, over the years Sturgis went from being a dirty little secret kn...

I remember reading an online review of a Rally campground where the reviewer complained about his camping neighbor, and how he dealt with the situation. He claimed that his neighbor, who was in a dry RV, ran a generator near his tent all night long, therefore disturbing his sleep, night after night, all week long. He felt compelled to rev up his bike in the wee hours of the morning, and clearly felt justified in doing so. Now ladies and gentlemen, please ask yourself: why on earth would someone ...

Sometimes we forget to say it, so it's good to have a reminder.
Thank you. You patrol the streets and highways in Sturgis and the Black Hills to help keep us safe. You deal with rude and angry people who give you a hard time just for doing your job. You work longer shifts that take you away from your families so we can have a good time. Thank you to all of the law enforcement officers who work the Rally.
Thank you to the bartenders and bar backs! You're on your feet for hours, and many o...

One issue that is guaranteed to start a debate in Sturgis circles is the topic of bringing children to the Rally. Personally, I see both sides of the argument.
Growing up in the Black Hills area, I was always led to believe that good girls don’t go to Sturgis. Bikers were dirty, they stole, swore, drank and caused trouble. The young ladies who partook of the festivities in Sturgis were no better than prostitutes, and the bikers who took them there. Back in the 80s, it was certainly not a ...

Is beer rented, or is it catch and release? Either way, we all yearn for a little “release” a few times a day.
Ahhh the porta-potty! Where would Sturgis be without you, portable shit can? I know I would have wet pants, that’s a given. As a middle aged mom of three large C-section babies, I can assure you that my bladder holds about as much as that of a potty training toddler. Under “normal” (HA!) circumstances, this is annoying enough, but in an environment where consuming copious amounts of be...

When you ask people about what they want to do in Sturgis, getting a tattoo seems to be on many people’s agenda. It seems like a perfect way to commemorate your trip, especially if you have taken the traditional route and rode out.
I would advise a little bit of caution.
Tattoo shops are set up virtually everywhere in Sturgis during the rally. Tattoo artists from everywhere come to ink up some of the hundreds of thousands of bikers who call the Black Hills “home” for a week. It’s a chance for ...

Sturgis Rally Facts

August 12-14, 1938

was the first Rally with organizational help from the local Sturgis businessmen. There were 9 racers for that Saturday. 8 Indian bikes and 1 Harley. The over all named champion was Johnny Spiegelhoff Pappy Hoel crashed through a 'burning wall' which became a common practice for many future Sturgis Rallies.